Fife Council’s Start-Up Grant supports individuals who intend to start a business in Fife by providing a small grant to help cover the costs of starting to trade.

You can use the funding for things such as equipment, stock and certification.

The Start-Up Grant opened for applications on 1 April 2023. The deadline to apply is 14 February 2026.

The grants are offered at the discretion of a Business Gateway adviser, so you must be working with Business Gateway Fife to be considered.

The grant is paid retrospectively. This means that after your application is approved, you'll need to cover the full project costs upfront, then submit a claim with evidence of your spending to receive your grant. You cannot claim for money spent before your application was approved.

Your application will be completed by a Business Gateway adviser, then checked, signed and submitted by you.

The Start-Up Grant is delivered by Business Gateway Fife on behalf of Fife Council's Economic Development Team. It is fully funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

You may be eligible if you intend to start a new business based in Fife, or have started one in the past 6 months.

This is a free service.

Note that you'll need to cover the costs upfront, then submit a claim with proof of your spending to receive your grant. You cannot claim for money spent before your application was approved.

Anyone who intends to start a new business in Fife or who has started a business in Fife in the past 6 months.

The Start-Up Grant opened for applications on 1 April 2023. The deadline to apply is 14 February 2026.

Applications are completed by a Business Gateway adviser, then checked, signed and submitted by the business that's applying. You will receive a decision within 5 working days after you apply.

After you receive and accept your grant offer, you'll have 2 months to submit a claim with proof of your spending. Your grant will be processed within 5 working days after your claim is received and approved.

The Start-Up Grant opened for applications on 1 April 2023. The deadline to apply is 14 February 2026.

Submit an enquiry and an adviser will be in touch to discuss your needs.